Mercedes S 580 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223 vs Tesla Model 3 Performance: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Model 3 Performance hits 100 km/h in 3.29 s versus 4.04 s for the S 580 4MATIC Saloon, long version. The instant torque of 698 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Model 3 Performance leads by 0.75 s and sits roughly 7 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Model 3 Performance is doing 157 km/h against 153 km/h for the S 580 4MATIC Saloon, long version. The gap is 0.52 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Model 3 Performance crosses the line in 11.49 s versus 12.07 s. The 0.58 s gap represents roughly 31 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The S 580 4MATIC Saloon, long version maxes out at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h while the Model 3 Performance keeps accelerating towards 261 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.57 s.

At 1,000 metres, the Model 3 Performance finishes in 21.21 s versus 21.70 s, with just 0.49 s to spare. The S 580 4MATIC Saloon, long version fails to fully close the launch gap.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the S 580 4MATIC Saloon, long version is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Model 3 Performance at 261 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 6.07 seconds. The 0.75 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.